A treasure hunt? A murder trial? A bitter rivalry? Tragic deaths? Do these sound like stories in this summer’s movie lineup? They could be, but they just happen to be topics of programs this summer at Fort Scott National Historic Site.

A number of special activities have been planned at the site for this summer.

·    On June 28, witness the trial of Private Charles Bacon, an 1840s soldier at Fort Scott who has been charged with the murder of Corporal Nehemiah Evans. After fighting with Evans over a dog, Bacon allegedly entered the stables, discharged his pistol, and shot and killed Evans. Audience members will determine Bacon’s guilt or innocence in this trial scheduled to begin at Fort Scott at 7 p.m.

·    From July 4-6, the site will offer a wide variety of programs. On July 4, the site will be celebrating an 1840s military holiday with a 30-gun salute, period games, and rousing patriotic speeches. Activities on July 5^th will focus on Civil War life at Fort Scott and will include a period Civil War era baseball game, which will pit the Jayhawkers against their bitter rivals, the Bushwhackers, for the second year in a row. A Civil War Calico Ball will follow the ball game at 7 p.m. with fiddling and dancing galore. Then on July 6^th the site will resonate with Highlights of History, a series of programs that will engage you in the site’s turbulent and intriguing history.

·    During the week of July 28-August 1, an archaeological treasure hunt will highlight the site’s ninth annual Trailblazer workshop. The Trailblazer workshop is a weeklong series of activities for children ages 10-14 designed to introduce area youth to the mission of the National Park Service. In addition to archaeology, activities will include prairie exploration, a play, and-new this year-a unit focusing on global climate change. To sign your child up for this workshop, call 620-223-0310.

·    On August 16, an evening program will be offered focusing on a series of tragic events at Fort Scott spanning from the 1840s to the Civil War. While no battles were fought at Fort Scott, its history was shrouded in conflict and there were some violent episodes that took place during this time period. Several of these episodes will be explored in a twilight tour of Fort Scott on August 16.

·    The summer programs will conclude with activities over Labor Day weekend from August 30-September 1 as the site comes to life with the sights, sounds, and smells of garrison life.

In addition to these special programs, costumed interpreters will be doing living history each weekend at Fort Scott this summer. Among other topics, they will be discussing letter writing on the frontier, the duties of soldiers guarding the border, and the trading of goods and services at the sutler store. Guided tours will be offered daily at 1 p.m. from now until Labor Day. Whether you choose to take a guided tour or walk around the site on your own, you will discover the significant role the site played in the growth of a young, vibrant, and divided nation during the mid 19^th century.

Fort Scott National Historic Site is open daily throughout the summer from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. There is an entrance fee of $3.00 for each adult 16 and above. Children aged 15 and below are admitted free. For more details, call 620-223-0310.